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Australia's five most powerful people in law

The AFR Magazine's hotly anticipated annual Power issue includes lists of the key players across six different industry sectors. Here are the top five most powerful people in law.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

More regulation and tougher regulators. That was the reality facing corporate Australia in 2019 as it adjusted to life after the Hayne royal commission. All eyes have been on ASIC and its promise to adopt a tougher approach to corporate wrongdoing, but the comprehensive legislative response is also keeping lawyers and their clients busy.

Christian Porter has been flagged as a possible future prime minister at the age of 49. AAP

However, law firms are not confident about the long-term outlook. They fear an economic slowdown. They are under more pressure than ever to provide better work-life balance and to stop the exodus of women, in particular, to corporate work. And their business model is also facing threats from "new law" technology providers and the big four consulting firms that offer "one stop shopping". Keeping others off their turf has never been so challenging.

1. Christian Porter

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Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Leader of the House. After the Prime Minister and Treasurer, Christian Porter is arguably the most visible and powerful figure in the government. He's driving a contentious reform program – religious freedom laws, the establishment of the federal corruption body, a merger of the family law courts and union-busting "integrity" legislation – so he will be a logical target for the Opposition. However, Porter has the opportunity, the will and the authority to justify his rating as a future prime minister. At 49, he also has time on his side.

3. Daniel Crennan QC

The head of ASIC's enforcement division, Daniel Crennan QC, is talking a big game as he rolls out litigation arising from the Hayne royal commission. The costly defeat in the wagyu beef responsible-lending case underlined the pitfalls of the "why not litigate" strategy but Crennan is a pugnacious advocate who won't be deterred by the odd loss. He exudes a quiet menace and has the budget and legislative backing to change the way corporate Australia does business.

4. Will Alstergren

The Chief Justice of the Family Court and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court has undertaken a substantial revamp of both courts and has rattled some cages along the way. He was a big winner at the May federal election, with the result convincing the dissenters that it was time to get on board. There is no more talk about him being forced to give up one of his jobs, which involves him managing 103 judges in 19 registries across the nation.

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5. Bret Walker SC

George Pell, Geoffrey Rush, Bianca Rinehart – and anyone who wants to chance their arm in the High Court. They are all clients of Bret Walker SC, the urbane Sydney silk who can start a sentence in Sydney and finish it in Brisbane. Having rejected offers of a seat on our top court, Walker has established himself as the country's leading appellate advocate. He has also been a national security monitor and run a series of government inquires — the latest on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

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Michael Pelly is the legal editor, based in our Sydney newsroom. He has been a senior adviser to federal and state attorneys-general and written two books, one a biography of former High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. Email Michael at michael.pelly@afr.com

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